6 Science-Backed Reasons Coffee Drinkers Are Healthier Than Other People

Healthy living advocates claim that coffee is a bad habit and try to convince everyone how bad it is for us. Their efforts are in vain for die-hard coffee addicts like me, but they do manage to convince many people to switch to tea. This is not a bad thing, but all the coffee drinkers will rejoice to find out that researchers proved coffee is actually healthy for us.[1] Even if you drink more than one cup of coffee per day, science says it’s good for you, so you only have to make sure it’s not too hot. Study after study, more coffee benefits are being discovered. Here are the science-backed reasons to drink coffee[2] – it’s good for you!

1. Coffee wakes up your brain

All coffee drinkers know that coffee wakes them up, but it actually “wakes up” your brain. As you struggle to get ready for the day, coffee blocks the stimuli which lead to sleepy feelings, and activates your brain.[3] This way, your brain will function better, so you will be more productive, and you will be able to think faster and make better decisions. Another interesting fact is many famous thinkers were coffee addicts: Benjamin Franklin is one of them, and Teddy Roosevelt is another.

2. Coffee drinkers live longer

This is a big one! New York Times featured the results of a study which found that coffee drinkers live longer. The study looked at more than 200,000 individuals for 30 years, assessing their relationship with coffee and their mortality rates. The results were staggering, as the study revealed that people who drink 3 to 5 cups of coffee a day have a lower risk of death[4] by stroke, neurological diseases, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and even suicide.

3. Coffee lowers your risk of developing fatal diseases

Coffee is rich in antioxidants,[5] and it contains more antioxidants than chocolate and berries. This makes it great for postponing signs of old age, but it also makes coffee beneficial for your health status. Research has shown that coffee drinkers have a lower risk of developing liver cancer[6] and colorectal cancer, which are highly common across the world. This effect of coffee is apparently due to the high content of antioxidants, which reduce inflammation. However, another study, this time conducted at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, showed that one needs to drink about four cups of coffee a day[7] in order to help lower the cancer development risk and the re-occurrence rate.

4. Coffee boosts your energy level

We know that, so it’s old news, right? Well, not quite. Coffee was found to help athletes train longer and harder, which is a whole different type of energy boost compared to the energy boost you need at the office when you are trying to decide how to brew your coffee.[8] The average performance improvement after a cup of coffee is 12%, which is a significant figure.

5. More coffee, less stress

Coffee is a stress reliever, as recent studies revealed. The delicious liquid not only boosts your energy, but it also relieves your emotional stress. This has a lot to do with the fact coffee improves productivity,[9] as the less pressure your brain feels, the more work you are able to do, especially in the long run.

6. Better teeth come from coffee

We all know that coffee stains our teeth, but few people know that coffee makes your teeth healthier. Despite leaving them colored, coffee reduces the inflammation of the gums,[10] which protects your teeth from periodontal disease, as well as a wide range of gum diseases, which usually lead to the loss of teeth. On top of this, coffee doesn’t ruin the protective layer of enamel on your teeth, as opposed to other drinks, such as soda.